Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Opens May 22 2025

[bwr827]

It is from a movie, just not a good one.

I thought the same about those Fantastic Beasts movies, but watched them with my kids over the holidays anyway and they really liked them. My daughter especially loved the creatures.

I still don’t think they’re very good, but I appreciated them more through my kids’ eyes — and they’re excited about this new Universal land.

 

[Andrew25]

This is what I alluded to with getting a little bit too far ahead of ourselves with these lumpy investments.

The question still remains not how will Disney respond to Epic Universe, but how will USF and IOA.

We know how the former (Disney is responding). They are continuing to plug away at all their parks with new lands being built and rolling out end of decade to most of their parks.

IOA has nothing currently of note on the docket this decade.

USF is going to limp along to finally maybe start to turn around their fortunes in 2030.



Epic is awesome. But it has sucked up all the air in the room from Universal's pipeline. USF's investment pipeline (that big new actual land) is an entire decade delayed. SNW was supposed to open start of this current decade.

This is where the flaws in the 'we want new gates' mantra start to come out to play.

I agree. I was actually very anti-Epic Universe when rumors started to trickle in abut a 3rd UOR park. I'd much rather prefer 2 "maximized parks" with no abandoned areas or lackluster attractions.

But, I don't think Universal will stop with the investments, they know USF needs help. My hope (and I do believe it'll happen), is that USF will see a major transformation in the next few years. I think IOA will receive very little investment.

I believe there is an expansion plot next to SNW for Pokemon

Nope - Pokemon, as of now is marked for USF in the next few years. The belief is that Luigi's Mansion will be the next mini-land at SNW @ Epic.

Will anything from the preview center be available for us folks at home? Maybe through Youtube? I'd love to see the preview.

So far, most of what will play inside is just a reuse of what's on the site. Merchandise will also go on sale on the UOR merchandise website.

 

[BaconPancakes]

I thought the first FB film was great, the the other two were garbage.

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

I agree. I was actually very anti-Epic Universe when rumors started to trickle in abut a 3rd UOR park. I'd much rather prefer 2 "maximized parks" with no abandoned areas or lackluster attractions.

But, I don't think Universal will stop with the investments, they know USF needs help. My hope (and I do believe it'll happen), is that USF will see a major transformation in the next few years. I think IOA will receive very little investment.


Nope - Pokemon, as of now is marked for USF in the next few years. The belief is that Luigi's Mansion will be the next mini-land at SNW @ Epic.


So far, most of what will play inside is just a reuse of what's on the site. Merchandise will also go on sale on the UOR merchandise website.

The announcement mentioned character meet-and-greets. Is that still happening?

 

[choco choco]

The model is very impressive and encouraging. The Dark Universe land looks to be one of the best designed themed areas I can remember in recent memory.

 

[ThemeParkTraveller]

Are we getting another detailed land reveal this month or is the preview center the only big news event for June?

 

[Andrew25]

The model is very impressive and encouraging. The Dark Universe land looks to be one of the best designed themed areas I can remember in recent memory.

Themed well... but the village portion (where the bulk of the theming is) is about half the size of IOA's Hogsmeade. It's very small and I'd imagine will be a bottleneck.

 

[Jedijax719]

For the Wizarding World, I wonder what music they will play? Will they stick with the familiar and recognizable music from the 8 HP films, or will they play the largely unrecognizable Fanstastic Beasts music that nobody knows?

 

[some other guy]

Yep, Waterworld. Suppose I should have specified across all the Universal parks, not just Orlando (although they really should put it here, too).

that was kinda funny how Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels would bounce between coasts wrestling in the Impact Zone here at Uni Orlando, then over to California to be the bad guy in Waterworld shows

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

The model is very impressive and encouraging. The Dark Universe land looks to be one of the best designed themed areas I can remember in recent memory.

As a big fan of the Universal monsters, I can't explain how lucky we are to have this coming next year.

 

[Weather_Lady]

As a big fan of the Universal monsters, I can't explain how lucky we are to have this coming next year.

My husband and I are thrilled with this, too. His birthday was last month and he requested this as his gift, so he could fully "prepare" for Dark Universe!

 

[Andrew25]

In a bit of a surprising update, Universal has added 1.3K acres of land to their Development District at Epic Universe in addition to the land they owned/controlled. Most of it is either unbuildable (at least now), designated as conservation or not owned by Universal... but at least gives them control over the area's zoning and infrastructure development similar to Reedy Creek/CBOTD (albeit minor powers).

It's a good amount of land added, but really just makes it easier for Universal to get rid of some of the yellowtape that usually surrounds land development.

One key note is that Shingle Creek (a protected waterway) is a part of the district, and we shouldn't expect Universal to encroach on that area similar to the Reedy Creek waterway.

 

[lazyboy97o]

In a bit of a surprising update, Universal has added 1.3K acres of land to their Development District at Epic Universe in addition to the land they owned/controlled. Most of it is either unbuildable (at least now), designated as conservation or not owned by Universal... but at least gives them control over the area's zoning and infrastructure development similar to Reedy Creek/CBOTD (albeit minor powers).

It's a good amount of land added, but really just makes it easier for Universal to get rid of some of the yellowtape that usually surrounds land development.

One key note is that Shingle Creek (a protected waterway) is a part of the district, and we shouldn't expect Universal to encroach on that area similar to the Reedy Creek waterway.

Community develop districts do not have zoning authority. That power remains with Orange County.

The South Campus is designated as a planned development which gives Universal significant control over how they develop their property. They effectively have de facto zoning control but that ability predates and is completely separate from the CDD.

 

[Weather_Lady]

FYI: Update, including preview center model footage with commentary and comparisons to current construction progress.

 

[JoeCamel]

In a bit of a surprising update, Universal has added 1.3K acres of land to their Development District at Epic Universe in addition to the land they owned/controlled. Most of it is either unbuildable (at least now), designated as conservation or not owned by Universal... but at least gives them control over the area's zoning and infrastructure development similar to Reedy Creek/CBOTD (albeit minor powers).

It's a good amount of land added, but really just makes it easier for Universal to get rid of some of the yellowtape that usually surrounds land development.

One key note is that Shingle Creek (a protected waterway) is a part of the district, and we shouldn't expect Universal to encroach on that area similar to the Reedy Creek waterway.

Just a note to others, Universal did not buy any new land

 

[trr1]

Just a note to others, Universal did not buy any new land

In a bit of a surprising update, Universal has added 1.3K acres of land to their Development District at Epic Universe in addition to the land they owned/controlled. Most of it is either unbuildable (at least now), designated as conservation or not owned by Universal... but at least gives them control over the area's zoning and infrastructure development similar to Reedy Creek/CBOTD (albeit minor powers).

It's a good amount of land added, but really just makes it easier for Universal to get rid of some of the yellowtape that usually surrounds land development.

One key note is that Shingle Creek (a protected waterway) is a part of the district, and we shouldn't expect Universal to encroach on that area similar to the Reedy Creek waterway.

I didn't know it was April 1st already

 

[Andrew25]

Community develop districts do not have zoning authority. That power remains with Orange County.

The South Campus is designated as a planned development which gives Universal significant control over how they develop their property. They effectively have de facto zoning control but that ability predates and is completely separate from the CDD.

Should have been more specific, county obviously still has say in what happens (which will occur whenever Universal considers doing anything with the conservation/Shingle Creek area to the east of the property).

This district does allow Universal to more easily modify zoning and will be far quicker for future changes/projects.

With that said, I created this image that makes it easier to understand how much land is part of the district. Anything within the yellow dashed lines is now part of the district.

Gold/Yellow - Current land owned by Universal Under Construction.
Purple - Current land owned by Universal not under construction (exception of the bus depot being constructed).
Green - Current land owned by Universal, but designated for transportation and/or affordable housing.

Everything else is not owned by them but falls under the district.

Other notes:

• The land between Top Golf & the Bus Hub (not highlighted) is owned by Ripley Entertainment - doubt they sell this to Universal (at least entirely)
• Land across the street from Top Golf is owned by Hyatt and listed as Future Hotel space. I'd imagine this land is too valuable for the company to sell off if attendance skyrockets. Prime real estate adjacent to the convention center.
• The Rosen Shingle Creek at the bottom right is not part of the district.
• All the unmarked to the green is the actual Shingle Creek itself and its protected wetlands.
• W Hotel - to be built soon

 

[lazyboy97o]

This district does allow Universal to more easily modify zoning and will be far quicker for future changes/projects.

No, it does not. The district has no zoning or building authority. The are completely irrelevant to that process. As a planned development, Universal also has no real need to modify their zoning.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Alicia Stella doing amazing work as always!

Agreed: unfailingly thorough and professional. Hers is literally the only YouTube channel to which I subscribe.

 

[DCBaker]

Seems the next announcement arrives on Thursday: